Nunavut Government Employee Survey (NGES)

This survey will collect data from employees who work in Nunavut for the Government of Nunavut and the Government of Canada. Questions will be asked about their experiences in the workplace, including their interest in learning, training and career advancement. 

The information will be used to inform the Nunavut Inuit Labour Force Analysis, and will also be used by governments and Inuit organizations to find ways to increase Inuit employment in government to levels that are representative of the population, as per Article 23 of the Nunavut Agreement. 

The information you provide may also be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes. In addition, information from partially completed or unsaved questionnaires may be retained and used.

Collection period:

From January 5 to April 3, 2026.

Collection methods:

Self response (electronic questionnaire in English, French, Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun), and telephone assisted (in English and French).

Survey participation:

Voluntary

Confidentiality

Data are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S-19. Your information will be kept strictly confidential.

Data sharing agreements and record linkage

Data sharing agreements

Statistics Canada has entered into data sharing agreements with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) and the Nunavut Bureau of Statistics to share the information that you provided for this survey. NTI and the Nunavut Bureau of Statistics have both agreed to keep your information confidential and use it only for statistical purposes.

With your consent we will share your data with NTI and the Nunavut Bureau of Statistics, however, your name and other personal identifiers will not be shared.

Record linkage

To enhance the data from this survey and to reduce the response burden, Statistics Canada will combine the information you provide with data from the Government of Nunavut, or Government of Canada employee lists. Statistics Canada may also combine the information you provide with data from other surveys or administrative sources.

Topics covered in the survey

The survey will include questions about:

  • current and previous government employment
  • child care responsibilities
  • languages used at work
  • incorporating Inuit societal values
  • supervisor support
  • perceptions and attitudes about the workplace
  • overall hiring process
  • interest in and barriers to career advancement
  • formal education
  • skills and experiences
  • barriers to:
    • education and workplace learning
    • employment
  • solutions to education and employment barriers
  • mental health in the workplace
  • government housing
  • Inuit Employment Plans (IEPs).

Published data

Statistics Canada publishes the results of its surveys in many formats. To find all the documents related to this survey, follow the links below and type the name of the survey in the search engine located at the left of your screen to filter the results.

Data: You will find tables, profiles of a community or region, thematic maps, public use microdata files, and data visualization tools.

Analysis: You will have direct access to Stats in brief (e.g., releases from The Daily, fact sheets), articles and reports, and journals and periodicals.

Survey-specific questions

What is the Nunavut Government Employee Survey?

The Nunavut Government Employee Survey (NGES) is an online survey of all current Government of Nunavut (GN) and Government of Canada (GC) employees whose assigned work location is in Nunavut and who were working at the time of survey completion.  
The 2026 survey is conducted by Statistics Canada and is sponsored by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). It was developed in collaboration with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI), the GN and Pilimmaksaivik, the Federal Centre for Excellence for Inuit Employment in Nunavut. 

The 2026 NGES is the third cycle of this survey. The first was completed in 2016 and second in 2021.

What is the purpose of the NGES?

The NGES asks questions about experiences in the workplace, including interest in learning, training, career advancement, hiring, Inuit Societal Values and Inuktut in the workplace.

The survey data will be used to inform the Nunavut Inuit Labour Force Analysis (NILFA) and will also be used by governments and Inuit organizations to find ways to increase Inuit employment in government to levels that are representative of the population, as per Article 23 of the Nunavut Agreement.

When will the survey take place?

The survey collection will take place between January 5 and April 3, 2026.

Can I complete the survey in any of the official languages of Nunavut?

Yes, the survey is available to complete online in Inuktut (Inuktitut Syllabics – South Baffin dialect and Inuinnaqtun), English and French. Once you access the survey online, you will be able to select the language.

Who was involved in designing the questionnaire and promoting the survey?

The 2026 NGES questionnaire content was developed by the NILFA Technical Working Group (NTWG). Members of this collaborative group include representatives from Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI), the Government of Nunavut (GN), Pilimmaksaivik, Employment and Social Development Canada and Statistics Canada. Questionnaires were tested with Government of Nunavut and Government of Canada employees.

The NTWG helps Statistics Canada promote the survey and highlight the importance of participating in order to obtain complete and accurate information to inform programs and policies for Article 23 of the Nunavut Agreement purposes.

Why is the NGES important? Why should I respond?

The NGES is an opportunity for employees to share their experiences, opinions and suggestions for improvement on many topics related to their workplace, including learning opportunities, training, career advancement, hiring, Inuit Societal Values and Inuktut in the workplace. The results of the survey will allow the Government of Nunavut (GN) and the Government of Canada (GC) to identify what is working well in each department and where improvements should be made.

Results of the NGES will also be used by the GN and the GC to develop and monitor Inuit employment plans and pre-employment training plans to increase Inuit employment and support the advancement of Inuit working for government organizations in Nunavut, which is an obligation under Article 23 of the Nunavut Agreement.

How and where will the survey be conducted?

All employees of the Government of Nunavut (GN) and the Government of Canada (GC) whose assigned work location is in Nunavut will be invited to take part in the survey through email invitations. The GN and the GC will provide Statistics Canada with lists of their employee work email addresses. Statistics Canada will then send an invitation containing a link that provides access to the survey questionnaire for employees to complete online at work in Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun, English or French.

What kinds of questions are in the survey?

The survey includes questions about:

  • current and previous government employment
  • government housing
  • child care responsibilities
  • relocating for work
  • interview for your current job and overall hiring process
  • language fluency and languages used at work
  • incorporating Inuit societal values
  • supervisor support
  • perceptions and attitudes about the workplace
  • interest in a permanent job
  • employment plans
  • interest in and barriers to career advancement
  • formal education and employer support
  • job-related training
  • learning activities at work
  • barriers to education and workplace learning
  • Inuit employment plans (IEPs)
  • participation in the hiring process
  • mental health in the workplace
  • suggestions for increasing Inuit employment in government.

How many people will be contacted to participate in the survey?

The NGES questionnaire will be sent to Government of Nunavut (GN) and Government of Canada (GC) employees whose assigned work location is in Nunavut and who are working during the survey collection period. This corresponds to approximately 7,500 employees.

How will Statistics Canada contact me for this survey?

Statistics Canada may contact you in a variety of ways. Our employees work days, evenings, weekends and even some holidays to accommodate respondents' busy schedules. For this survey, we will communicate with respondents by:

  • Mailing letters
  • Calling landline or cell phone numbers
  • Sending emails

How can I confirm an employee's identity, or confirm the legitimacy of a phone call, or email I received?

All data collection clerks carry photo identification issued by Statistics Canada. You can verify an employee's identity by searching their name on the GCdirectory. To confirm the legitimacy of a phone call, or email, you can contact Statistics Canada by calling one of the telephone numbers below.

General inquiries

  • 1-877-949-9492
  • TTY line: 1-800-363-7629

Survey participation inquiries

  • 1-833-977-8287
  • TTY line: 1-866-753-7083

If you have been selected to participate in a survey, Statistics Canada will typically call you from 1-833-977-8287 and emails will be sent from @statcan.gc.ca or @canada.ca email domains.

Please note that the phone number may appear on your call display as originating from the U.S.A. This situation is beyond our control and is linked to a North American agreement on telephony and trunking of calls. If you have any doubts about the legitimacy of the survey or the employee, we encourage you to contact us to verify.

Who can participate in the survey?

All current Government of Nunavut (GN) and Government of Canada (GC) employees whose assigned work location is in Nunavut and who are working during the survey collection period can participate. Indeterminate, term, contract, seasonal, student, casual employees, relief workers and substitute teachers can participate in the NGES. Employees who are on leave throughout the collection period are excluded from the survey.

What if I work from a location outside Nunavut?

You can complete the survey only if you work for the Government of Nunavut or the Government of Canada and your assigned work location is in Nunavut. You must be working at the time of survey completion.

What if I am a seasonal worker and want to participate but live in Nunavut for only part of the year?

You can participate in the NGES if you work for the Government of Nunavut or the Government of Canada and your assigned work location is in Nunavut. You must be working at the time of survey completion.

What if I am on parental leave during the collection period?

You cannot participate in the survey if you are on parental leave during the entire duration of the collection period. However, you can participate if you are actively working at any point during the collection period.

Why do you need this information? Could it not be obtained from other sources?

The NGES is a unique survey that gathers information about government employees' experiences working in Nunavut. Although some limited information could be obtained from government employment data and reports, information about employee experiences with their job, or about access and barriers to training or career advancement is not readily available. The NGES offers an opportunity for government employees to confidentially express their opinions about their experiences in the workplace. This information is necessary to understand current successes and areas of possible improvement, with the goal of increasing and maintaining Inuit representation in government.

I just responded to an employee survey, why should I answer this one, too?

The unique questions and responses in the NGES allow for Inuit and non-Inuit employees to provide input on experiences in the workplace and suggestions for improvement. The NGES addresses key topics such as government housing, childcare, supervisor support, job-related training, career advancement, job satisfaction, hiring, Inuit Societal Values and Inuktut in the workplace. Your survey participation will help governments and Inuit organizations find ways to increase Inuit employment in government to levels that are representative of the population, as per Article 23 of the Nunavut Agreement. All respondents' survey data will contribute to the Nunavut Inuit Labour ForceAnalysis (NILFA), which assists in formulating Inuit employment plans and pre-employment training plans.

Am I obligated to take part in the survey?

Although your participation in the survey is voluntary, we value your input. Your responses contribute to complete and accurate information about all government employees in Nunavut.

How was I chosen for this survey? How did you get my name and email address?

The Government of Nunavut and Government of Canada were responsible for providing a complete list of employees and their work email addresses and telephone numbers so Statistics Canada could send you an invitation to complete the survey questionnaire.

I am an employee with the Government of Nunavut / Government of Canada in Nunavut, but I did not receive an email with the link to the survey. Can I complete the survey?

Yes, you can complete the survey.

Please contact Statistics Canada by telephone at 1-833-977-8287. Service is available in English and French, seven days a week, including evenings (except holidays).

What if I don't have access to a computer or the internet at work to complete the survey?

You can wait for a Statistics Canada interviewer to contact you, or to complete the survey over the phone, please call us at 1-833-977-8287.

There are also designated locations with internet access in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet and Cambridge Bay where you can come fill out the NGES. Laptops will be provided by Statistics Canada and data collection clerks will be present at these locations to provide assistance. Please contact Statistics Canada by telephone at 1-833-977-8287 for more information. Service is available in English and French, seven days a week, including evenings (except holidays).

How do you protect my information? Will it remain confidential?

Statistics Canada takes your confidentiality very seriously. Under the Statistics Act, all information provided to Statistics Canada will be kept confidential and used for statistical purposes only.

Your responses will always be grouped with the responses of other employees in your department. Any information shared with your department will exclude personal identifiers so that there is no way to identify individuals.

For more information about confidentiality, please visit Statistics Canada's Trust Centre.

Why should I answer questions that I feel are too personal or an invasion of my privacy?

We realize that some questions are personal, but please keep in mind that we get many answers from many people. These answers are grouped together and used to produce overall statistics. We do not release any information that could identify individuals.

If I start the survey and do not have time to finish it, can I save it and finish later?

Yes, if you enter the survey with your unique secure access code (SAC) there is a 'Save and finish later' button on each page of the electronic questionnaire. You will be required to create a password. Further instructions are provided in the questionnaire.

Will you use my name?

No. All personal information such as names and email addresses will be separated from survey answers. Names and addresses are only used to contact people for the survey, and no information will be published that could allow an individual to be identified.

Who is sponsoring this survey?

The survey is conducted by Statistics Canada and is sponsored by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).

When will the results of this survey be available?

Statistics Canada will publish highlights of the results of the 2026 NGES on our website in spring/summer 2027. An announcement will appear on Statistics Canada's website. In addition, results will be incorporated into future Nunavut Inuit Labour Force Analysis (NILFA) research.

For further information regarding the NILFA, please contact ESDC.NILFA-APAIN.EDSC@HRSDC-RHDCC.GC.CA.

Where can I find out more information about the Nunavut Government Employee Survey? Can I receive help in any of the official languages of Nunavut?

Help is available in Inuktitut, English and French by email or telephone.

For more information about this survey

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